Americans among hostages to escape from captors in Algeria

ASSOCIATED PRESS

January 18, 2013 06:56 AM

Norwegian Prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, right, and Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide, attend a press conference in Oslo regarding the attack on Statoil's plant in Algeria, where 13 Norwegians are among 17 workers who were taken as hostages, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. Militants said they attacked and occupied the field partly operated by the British energy company BP because of Algeria's support of France's operation against al-Qaida-linked Malian rebels groups to the southeast. (AP Photo/NTB Scanpix, Berit Roald) NORWAY OUTNTB scanpix

ASSOCIATED PRESS

January 18, 2013 06:56 AM

ALGIERS, Algeria -- An Algerian security official says at least 20 foreigners have escaped from the natural gas plant deep in the Sahara desert where Islamist militants are holding dozens of hostages.

The official said those escaping included Americans and Europeans. He did not give any further details.

Militants attacked the Ain Amenas gas complex 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) south of Algiers on Wednesday, taking dozens of foreign workers hostage. Those being held included Japanese, Britons, French, Americans, Malaysians and Norwegians, among others.

The gas plant has been surrounded by the Algerian army and there's now a tense standoff with the militants.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media.